by greg Beacham LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic was the last starter introduced by the Los Angeles Lakers, an honor normally reserved for LeBron James. When Doncic jogged into the spotlight on a darkened court through a cordon of his new teammates, his new fans stood and roared while wearing thousands of gold T-shirts with his name and number. Even a young superstar could feel the magnificence of the moment. “I was a little nervous before,” Doncic said. “I (don’t remember) the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court again, it was…

by Zeke Miller and Michelle L. Price WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose 14-year sentence for political corruption charges he commuted during his first term. The Republican president called the Democratic former governor, who once appeared on Trump’s reality TV show “Celebrity Apprentice,” “a very fine person” and said the conviction and prison sentence “shouldn’t have happened.” “I’ve watched him. He was set up by a lot of bad people, some of the same people I had to deal with,” Trump said at the White House as he signed the pardon. Blagojevich…

by Eliaser Ndeyanle, Farai Mutsaka and Gerald Imray OSHAKATI, Namibia — Sam Nujoma, the fiery, white-bearded freedom fighter who led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 and served as its first president for 15 years, coming to be known as the father of his nation, has died. He was 95. Nujoma’s death was announced Sunday by current Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who said Nujoma died on Saturday night after being hospitalized in the capital, Windhoek. “The foundations of the Republic of Namibia have been shaken,” Mbumba said in a statement. “Over the past three weeks, the Founding…

by Maria Cheng LONDON — The head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Monday the number of new HIV infections could jump more than six times by 2029 if American support of the biggest AIDS program is dropped, warning that millions of people could die and more resistant strains of the disease could emerge. In an interview with The Associated Press, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said HIV infections have been falling in recent years, with just 1.3 million new cases recorded in 2023, a 60% decline since the virus peaked in 1995. But since President Donald Trump’s announcement the…

by Rob Maaddi NEW ORLEANS — Yo Philly: Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni are world champions. A ferocious Philadelphia Eagles defense tormented and frustrated Patrick Mahomes while Hurts made all the plays the offense needed. So much for the Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn’t even close. Cooper DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Josh Sweat pressured Mahomes all night and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship. Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push to earn…

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH AND TIA GOLDENBERG Updated 3:36 PM CST, February 8, 2025 Share DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli hostages and Israel freed nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners Saturday in the latest exchange of a ceasefire that has paused 16 months of war in Gaza. The hostages’ condition and scenes of Hamas forcing them to speak in a handover ceremony sparked outrage in Israel and could increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire beyond its current six-week phase. Netanyahu has signaled he would resume the war, even…

by Jonathan Landrum Jr. NEW ORLEANS — Nelly brought his signature St. Louis swagger to a New Orleans institution, turning a nearly seven-decade-old restaurant into a Super Bowl week party. The multi-Grammy winner packed Brennan’s on Friday night, delivering a hit-filled set at the h.wood “Homecoming” concert with DraftKings. As fans rushed the stage, Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and actor Jaleel White kicked back in the VIP area, while Flavor Flav enjoyed the show from a prime onstage spot. Chainsmokers went on before Nelly, performing a number of their hits from “Closer” to “Roses.” Before Nelly’s appearance,…

by Andrew Seligma CHICAGO — Stephen Curry scored 34 points and tied a season high with eight 3-pointers, Jimmy Butler added 25 points in his Golden State debut and the Warriors rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 132-111 on Saturday night. Curry scored 24 of his points and made five 3s in the third quarter as the Warriors went from trailing by 24 to leading by three. Butler, who played his first six seasons in Chicago, made a big impact in his first game since a trade-deadline deal from Miami following a messy split with the Heat. The six-time All-Star…

by Gerald Imray CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Groups representing some of South Africa’s white minority responded Saturday to a plan by President Donald Trump to offer them refugee status and resettlement in the United States by saying: thanks, but no thanks. The plan was detailed in an executive order Trump signed Friday that stopped all aid and financial assistance to South Africa as punishment for what the Trump administration said were “rights violations” by the government against some of its white citizens. The Trump administration accused the South African government of allowing violent attacks on white Afrikaner farmers and…

by Schuyler Dixon DALLAS (AP) — Anthony Davis expects to make his debut for the Dallas Mavericks in their first home game since the seismic trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Beyond knowing he should be on the floor for the opening tip against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Davis has no idea what to expect. Anger among fans in Dallas hadn’t eased much in the six days after the blockbuster that also sent Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Mavs while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris went to LA. Most of the…